Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Symes hits out at 'elbow' claims
MICHAEL Symes hit back at criticism from Brighton boss Gus Poyet after a stormy clash at Withdean.[LNB] Poyet accused Symes of elbowing Seagulls defender Tommy Elphick as Cherries left East Sussex with a lucky 1-1 draw.[LNB] Assistant referee John Farries awarded Eddie Howe's men a controversial late penalty after Elphick appeared to handle under pressure from substitute Steve Fletcher, but the offence looked to be marginally outside the home side's penalty area.[LNB] Despite initially awarding a free kick to the visitors, though, referee Darren Sheldrake changed his mind after Farries flagged for the spot kick, which Marc Pugh converted deep in stoppage time.[LNB] Kazenga LuaLua had handed Poyet's side a deserved lead after an hour of dire football in front of the Sky Sports cameras.[LNB] But as well as slamming both Sheldrake and Farries, Poyet also felt Symes should have seen red after the former Accrington frontman appeared to strike Elphick with a stray elbow. Sheldrake opted for a yellow card.[LNB] Symes had earlier caught goalkeeper Casper Ankergren with his boot, breaking the Danish stopper's nose.[LNB] When asked by the Echo for his opinion on both incidents, Poyet said: I was far away from the incident with the goalkeeper. I put myself in that position and I'm hit in the face, I think that is football. You can watch it and analyse it if you need to, but who knows.[LNB] The other one was a little more clear. It's either nothing or a red card. Simple.[LNB] If it is nothing or red then I would accept it, but I don't accept a yellow card. That is something the referee does when he thinks he can make everybody happy.[LNB] I would have been happier if the referee had given nothing because then you know he didn't deserve anything.[LNB] Before, he nearly killed our goalkeeper. I don't think the referee knew it was the same player because if I was the referee and I saw the second one, I would send him off. But I'm not a referee.[LNB] Symes, who was substituted to a chorus of boos a jeers from the home support, told the Echo: The keeper just came running out and slid into my boot. I had my eyes on the ball for the second one and he just started screaming for some reason.[LNB] I didn't catch him. If I had caught him, he would have been on the floor. If I'd caught him with my elbow, he wouldn't have been on his feet running at me. I didn't go out to catch him.[LNB] Cherries boss Howe added: I know Symesy. He's a gentle giant and wouldn't go out to hurt anybody and, if he has caught someone, it's by pure accident.[LNB] ¢ Cherries star Rhoys Wiggins has been drafted into the Wales squad.[LNB] The left-back, who is yet to win a full international cap, could feature in tomorrow's Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland.[LNB] The London-born defender, who qualifies to play for Wales as his father is Welsh, has been capped 16 times at under-21 and under-19 level.[LNB]
